Percussion bomb for rifles or bomb-firing appliances



Jan. 13, 1931. R. BossoNE PERCUSSION BOMB FOR RIFLES OR BOMB FIRING APPLIANCES Filed April 4. 1929 Patented' Jut 13,v 1931.

PATENTi OFFICE i namomio nessuna, or momma, mum, rALY PERCUSSION BOMB FOB RULES 0B BOMB-mii .ABPLINCES y Application med Apru 4, 192s, serial no. 352,495, and 1n Italy Apru :0,1928.

This invention has for its object a bomb of the percussion typeto be fired from an ordinary riie or bomb-iring device which is perectly safe against any accidental bursting during handling should a shock occur on any art of the bomb. The device will however urst on the slightest shock when reaching the target though being actually prevented from bursting when' fired and during its fiight. The safety against accidental bursting is obtained by means of a pin screwed on the tapering portion of the bomb and securing the percussion device against motion. The pin carries a small propeller which is caused to rotate rapidly fin the direction in which the pin is screwed o by the resistance opposed by the air to the forward movement of the bomb as soon as itis red. Soon after the tiring the percussion device is set .free and 20 the bomb, striking against an obstacle will burst. Moreover the bomb is provided with a bayonet cover holding the propeller fast during handling. When said cap is removed a slight rotation of the propeller takes place which will unlock the same should it have been thoroughly screwed on.

The percussion device forms a part of the ring device; this latter is introduced into the cylindrical bomb case having a tapering end, thus facilitating the indirect discharge viz.' the discharge of the bomb along a sharp curve.

The annexed drawing shows by way of example a constructional form of a ride bomb according to this invention.

Fig. 1 is an elevation partially sectioned along its axis, of a bomb provided with a safety cover during handling.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bomb, the cover being shown in section.

Fig. 3 shows the bomb without cover and propeller, ready to burst under the action of a shock.

Fig. 4 shows the bomb when fired under 4,5 the action of a-shock.

The bomb comprises a cylindrical case 1 having a tapered end and a screwed base 2 for the admission ofV the powder. The taperedend is centrally provided with a threaded bore in which the ring device is fitted and held fast. The firing device is substantlally constituted by a tubular member 3 the threaded portion 3 .of which is screwed in the bore of the bomb tapered end and is moreover threaded on its outer part 3 engaging 65 --an elon ated compartment contained in the case an a short outer one; the partition being provided with an opening thro h which is ,passed a stem 7 forming the striker and provided at one of its ends adjacent to the primer with a Hat head 7a and at its other end with a circular groove 7 in which engage three or more balls 8 (Fi 1 and 3) acting as retaining means L of t e striker against the action of the compressing spring 9. The bell-shaped cap 4 is screwed-on the threaded portion 3" and the stem 11 of a small pr'opeller 12 is screwed on said bell-shaped cap y 4 until it comes into contact with the cap 10. 75

holding same in place even under the action of a shock. a The propeller is threaded4 in the' same direction as the ,stem 11. During a cover 13 is placed on the bomb handling, and hel on its tapering endbymeans of'a 8 bayonet joint (pin 14 and slot 13') so that a, certain rotation isrequired to loosen saidcover. Advantage is taken of such rotation to partly unscrew the stem 11 ofthe propeller by removing the cover 13 thus e ectlng the disengagement of said stem should it have been screwed completely down.V

For this purpose the cover 13 is provided with pins 15 engaging with the propeller blades and causin the propeller to rotate in either direction tlus engaging or disengagi the bayonet joint 13-14' (Fig. 2).-

e bomb is provided on its base with the usual stem 16 to be introduced into the barsafety cover 13 is removed before firing thereby impart-ing a slight unscrewing rotation to the stem 11 and setting the propller in the best conditions of otation. The mb appears then (as shown dotted line rel of the riiie or bomb'iring device. The 9,6

Fig. 3) with the safety device constituted by the propeller l2 pressed by its stem 11 on the cap 10, which retains the balls 8 in the groove 7. When firing, the air resistance acts on the propeller 12 causing same to rotate in the direction that will unscrew the stem 11 and shortly thereafter the propeller and its steni will be separated from the bomb (Fig. 3). The cap l0 will remain on its seat held only by attrition of the balls pressed by the striker spring. When the bomb falls anywhere even on a resilient surface such as grass or mud, the inertia will overcome the slight friction and the cap 10 will leave its seat allowing the balls 8 to become disengaged from the groove 7 of the striker 7, which will thus be free to strike the primer 5 under the action of the spring 9 (Fig. 4) thus causing the bomb to burst.

What I claim is:

1. In a percussion bomb for rifles or bombfiring appliances, the combination with a case containing the explosive charge, of an igniting device comprising a tubular member axially mounted in said case and projecting outwards, a partition in said tubular member :forming therein a compartment inside the case and a compartment outside said case, a primer and a detonator in the inner end of said tubular member, a striker mounted in the inner compartment, a spring tending to force the striker against the primer, balls in the outer compartment of said tubular member engaging in an annular groove provided in the striker end projecting into said compartment, a cap holding the balls in engagement in said groove, a bell-shaped cap secured to the outer end of said tubular member, a set screw fitted in an axial threaded bore of said bell-shaped cap -and holding when completely screwed on said cap in its safety position and a propeller secured to the screw end projecting outside from said bellshaped cap.

2. In a percussion bomb for rifles or bombfiring appliances, the combination with a case containing the explosive charge, of an igniting device comprising a tubular ineinber axially mounted in said case and projecting outwards, a partition in said tubular member forming therein a compartment inside the case and a compartment outside said case, a primer and a detonator in the inner end of said tubular member, a striker mounted in the inner compartment, a spring tending to force the striker against the primer, balls in the outer compartment of said tubular member engaging in an annular groove provided in the striker end projecting into said compartment, a cap holding the balls in engagement in said groove, a bell-shaped cap secured to the outer end of said tubular member, a set screw fitted in an axial threaded bore of said bell-shaped cap and holding` when completely screwed on said cap in its safety position and a propeller secured to the screw end projecting outside from said bell-shaped cap and a protecting cover secured to the case y means of a bayonet joint and carrying pins engaging with the propeller blades in such a way as to effect the unscrewing of said set screw when removing'the cover.

3. In a bomb, the combination with a case containing the explosive charge, of an impact igniting device comprising a spring-pressed striker, balls engaging anannular groove on said striker, a cap holding said balls in engagement with said groove, a seat on which said cap fits with a slight friction, means for holding said cap on lits seat, and means operated by the flight of the bomb for releasing said cap from said holding means so that said cap leaves its seat on the slightest shock permitting the release of the striker.

4. In a bomb, the combination with a casing `for the explosive, of .an impact igniting device comprising a spring pressed striker havin an annular groove, balls for engaging said groove, a cap for holding said balls in said groove, a flared seat for said cap,

means for holding the latter on its seat, and

means actuated by the flight of the bomb for releasing the cap from its holding means,

whereby said cap leaves its seat by impact of the bomb.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my naine.

RAIMONDO BOSSONE. 

